Ski holding apparatus

ABSTRACT

Ski holding apparatus is disclosed which comprises a rack for supporting a plurality of skis in a substantially common plane. The rack features pairs of holders arranged across the rack with the holders of each pair spaced apart along the rack so as to support at least one ski, or preferably a pair of skis at two spaced apart locations. 
     The holders are adapted to support the skis in inclined positions in which the mean transverse plane of the skis is arranged at angle of 30° to 60° to said common plane. 
     In this way the skis on the rack require less space. The rack can either be used on vehicle roofs, in ski rooms, or in storage spaces within vehicles. Each holder is conveniently closed by a closure member to retain the skis. 
     Various types of closure are described in which the individual closures for each holder may be either resilient or rigid and may also be supported from a common clamping arm.

The present invention relates to a ski holding apparatus and hasparticular reference to an arrangement with two spaced apart ski holderswhich are fastened, or fastenable, to a support structure and areadapted to receive at least one ski or in particular a pair of skis withtheir soles contacting each other.

Ski holding apparatus of this kind, often referred to as racks aregenerally provided with a plurality of pairs of holders so as to be ableto accommodate several skis and are used in ski rooms and alsoextensively for fixing skis to vehicles in particular to private motorcars.

Various kinds of ski roof racks for motor cars are known. In one systemthe pairs of skis are arranged in holders with their narrow side edgesuppermost and lying in a generally horizontal plane. This system has thedisadvantage that the sideways spacing of the individual holders must berelatively large in order that the ski bindings and the ski brakes ofneighbouring skis do not interfere with one another. In another systemthe pairs of skis are arranged with their soles lying in the horizontalplane and this arrangement means that the danger exists that thedownwardly disposed ski bindings (particularly if the bindings areopen), or the ski brakes can contact the roof of the car. The skiholders must, therefore, be arranged at a relatively large distance fromthe roof of the car but this is, however, undesirable because ofstability and aerodynamic considerations. Both known kinds of skiholders or racks have the disadvantage that they take up considerablespace and this is disadvantageous for the storage of skis in ski roomsor in closed vehicle spaces.

The principal object of the present invention thus resides in providinga ski holding apparatus particularly for vehicles and especially forprivate motor cars of the kind named above by means of which individualskis and particularly pairs of skis can be arranged relatively close toone another without the danger of interference between neighbouring skibindings or ski brakes and without the ski bindings or ski brakesoccupying an unnecessary amount of vertical space. At the same time theskis or pairs of skis should be safely secured via the ski rack.

For achieving this object the invention envisages the provision of skiholding apparatus comprising at least one pair of spaced apart holdersfor supporting a plurality of skis substantially parallel to one anotherin a substantially common plane, there being a plurality of pairs ofholders arranged across the rack with the holders of each pair beingspaced apart along the rack and being adapted to support at least oneski of a pair of skis at two locations the holders being further adaptedto support the skis in inclined positions with the mean transverse planeof the skis arranged at an angle within the range 30° to 60° to saidcommon plane.

The basic thought underlying the invention is thus to be seen in theconcept of supporting the skis neither with their narrow edges uppermostnor with their soles parallel to the horizontal plane but rather in aninclined position in the holders so that both the lowermost top skisurface and the lowermost narrow edges of a pair of skis aresimultaneously supported.

On account of the special choice of angle the bindings or ski brakes ofneighbouring pairs of skis can no longer interfere but rather overlapeach other by partially lying one above the other. The inclined positionof the ski pairs means that the bindings, and ski brakes if fitted, atmost project by a trivial amount below or above the holders so thatcontact of these parts on upper or lower parts e.g. such as the roof ofa motor car need no longer be feared.

The arrangement of holders in accordance with the present inventionmakes is possible to arrange neighbouring ski pairs very closely packedalongside one another. The inclined arrangement of the ski pairs alsohas the advantage that the outwardly extending Vee shaped recess definedby each holder generally extends in a direction in which the hands ofthe skier must in any case move during insertion or removal of the pairsof skis, that i.e. when the ski holding apparatus is intended to allowintroduction and removal of the pairs of skis from the side. Thus a verystraightforward insertion or removal of the pairs of skis is possible.It should be emphasized that a trivial inclination of the pairs of skisdue to a corresponding construction of the holders, as could e.g. bemade on stylistic grounds is not sufficient in order to make possiblethe close, side by side arrangement of the ski pairs without taking upan undue amount of vertical space. In order to achieve this the angularranges taught by the present invention are necessary and in particularthe angle of 45° and the range of ±5° on either side of this preferredangle are the most favourable.

It is especially useful if each of the holders of each pair of holdersis arranged on a respective carrier member and if the carrier membersare spaced apart by the desired spacing for the holders of each pair. Atleast two and preferably from three to six holders are arranged side byside on each carrier member.

When using the ski holding apparatus of the present invention on avehicle and in particular on a privat motor car or also possibly insidea vehicle the weight of the ski pairs is generally insufficient in orderto secure them in the holders. The invention thus envisages a preferredembodiment in which a closure is associated with each holder the closurebeing movable between a closed position in which it secures the skis inthe holder and an open position in which the skis can be removed fromthe holder.

A first possibility for the practical realization of the closure is thatthe closure associated with each holder is made individually movable. Inparticular, in this case the closure can be a resilient strap orresilient cord which is tensionable over the holder i.e. over the Veeshaped recess therein. The strap, or cord, should be fixed to one end ofone of the limbs defining the Vee shaped recess and should be releasablyconnectable to the end of the other limb defining the Vee shaped recess.

The particular advantage offered by this embodiment is that afterreleasing the elastomeric band or the elastomeric loop the simple holderdefined by the two limbs of the Vee shaped recess is completely open atits upper side so that the introduction and removal of the skis can takeplace without the need for particular care or attention as a pair ofskis only contacts the recess by one top surface and by two adjacentnarrow edges.

In accordance with a further embodiment the closure can be a clamp ofrigid or resilient material movable away from the holder and springbiased relative thereto. By moving the clamp away from the holder thenecessary opening can be provided for the introduction of the pair ofskis which are then secured automatically via the spring bias operatingon the clamp.

It is especially advantageous if the closure is fixed to the end of theholder remote from the side from which the skis are introduced andincludes solely an angled portion which extends over the Vee shapedrecess. In this arrangement the closure is preferably pivotable awayfrom the recess or can alternatively by resiliently deflected so as toprovide the necessary access to the recess. It is expeciallyadvantageous if the extreme uppermost corner of the angled portion isprovided with a chamfer. In this manner the closure does not need to beespecially pressed away to allow the introduction of the pair of skisbut rather the simple act of pressing on the closure with the pair ofskis is sufficient to automatically deflect it to the side so that itthen snaps back into the clamped position once the pair of skis has beenfully inserted into the holder.

A further practical possibility is to construct the closure to have afirst arm which is fixedly arranged parallel to one side of the Veeshaped recess and a further arm which can be pushed or pivoted away fromthe recess to permit access thereto. In this way the holder has agenerally U shaped form which can be closed by a pivotably or slidablydisplaceable arm.

It is, however, especially advantageous if the closures associated witha number of the holders are arranged on at least one clamping arm whichcan be removed from or arranged above the holders and is securable in aclosed position in which the individual holders are all closed by theirassociated closures. If the ski holding apparatus is arranged on a carroof then the clamping arm is usefully made vertically pivotableupwardly about a longitudinal axis. In accordance with a furtheradvantageous modification one or two pairs clamping arms aresymmetrically arranged about the central longitudinal axis of the skirack with their pivot axes in the vicinity of this central longitudinalaxis, in this arrangement each clamping arm can advantageously beassociated with three holders arranged alongside each other so that intotal place is available for six pairs of skis.

The arrangement of the closures on clamping arms means that theoperation of individually securing each pair of skis in its holder canbe spared.

The practical realization of an arrangement in which a plurality ofclosures are arranged on one clamping arm can be achieved, in accordancewith a third embodiment, by providing, for each holder, an elastictension element which extends between two points on the clamping armthrough the space which, in the engaged position of the arm is occupiedby a pair of skis supported by the associated holder and which forms thesingle part of the clamping arm which comes into engagement with thepair of skis (or ski) that is engaged within the holder.

The arrangement of this embodiment is such that the elastic tensionelement exerts a downward force essentially diagonally through a pair ofskis thus pressing the pair of skis into the Vee shaped recess definedby the holder and thus safely securing the skis against all thevibrations or aerodynamic forces that may occur.

Usefully bracing arms extend at intervals from the clamping arm to thecarrier member in order to form one of the fixture points for theresilient tensile element whilst lugs or bolts are preferably providedat the same spacing on the clamp arm to form the other fixture pointsfor the resilient tensile element.

The arrangement of the resilient tensile element, which is preferablyformed as a rubber cord is of special significance for the presentinvention. The resilient tensile element preferably extends by an amountof from 30 to 50% and particularly 40% of the width of the recess foraccommodating a pair of skis (the width of the pair of skis), beyondboth ends of the recess. In the section transverse to the longitudinalaxis the tensile element should preferably make an angle of between 0and 30° and especially 15° with the support limb of the Vee shapedrecess on which the top surface of the ski is intended to rest.Furthermore, it is useful if, in the section transverse to thelongitudinal axis, the tensile element, at its point of intersectionwith the limb of the Vee shaped recess for supporting the narrow sidesof the pair of skis, has its largest spacing from the other limb of therecess. This spacing should in particular be from 40 to 60% of theaverage cross-sectional thickness of a pair of skis.

In the section transverse to the longitudinal axis the tensile elementshould approximately be tangential to the end of the limb of the Veeshaped recess supporting the top surface of the ski which is remote fromthe limb of the Vee shaped recess which supports the narrow edges of thepair of skis.

The construction in accordance with the invention ensures that theresilient tensile element, when tensioned over a pair of skis runs firstof all approximately horizontally from the upper fixture point towardsthe pair of skis, then turns downwardly in order to extend along the topsurface of the pair of skis and finally makes a further turn downwardlybeneath the pair of skis towards the lower fixture point. This last partof the elastomeric tension element thus extends substantially verticallyand the last turn in the tension element generates a force componenttowards the limb of the Vee shaped recess which supports the lower skiof the pair of skis.

Although the limbs of the Vee shaped recess can be formed by pieces of around or flat material arranged on the carrier member it is preferred ifthe limbs are formed by a piece of sheet metal bent in zigzag like formwhich is fastened to the carrier member. Preferably the limb of the Veeshaped recess intended to support the narrow side edges of the pair ofskis, (which for this purpose only need to be made relatively short) isextended upwardly by an amount such that it continuously adjoins theneighbouring limb of the adjacent Vee shaped recess which is intended tosupport the top surface of the lower ski of a pair of skis. In thismanner a slide surface is available for the insertion and removal of apair of skis which significantly simplifies these operations.

It is especially advantageous if, as seen in the transverse directionresilient tensile elements are provided on both sides of the Vee shapedrecess.

In order to avoid the loss of a pair of skis should the tension of theresilient tensile elements slacken, or should a resilient tensileelement break, projections are usefully formed on the clamp arms whichproject inwardly to about the height of the binding and which limit thepossible displacement of a pair of skis in the forward or rearwarddirection by providing an abutment for the parts of the bindings whichproject above the top surfaces of the skis.

The invention will now be described in greater detail by way of exampleonly with reference to the accompanying drawings which show:

FIG. 1 a schematic front view of one half of a ski roof rack for a motorcar,

FIG. 2 a partial sectional plan view taken on the line II--II of FIG. 1,however, to a larger scale,

FIG. 3 a similar view to that of FIG. 1 of an embodiment in which anindependently operable closure is associated with each ski holder and inwhich three different possibilities for the practical form of theclosure are illustrated alongside each other,

FIG. 4 a further advantageous possibility for the arrangement of aclosure on a ski holder,

FIG. 5 a modification of the subject of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 a schematic partial section of a vehicle with a ski spacearranged at the base of the vehicle and in which a ski holding apparatusin accordance with the present teaching is housed,

FIG. 7 a schematic side view of a private motor car with a box forreceiving skis provided on its roof,

FIG. 8 a cross-section of the ski box of FIG. 7 which likewise includesthe ski holding apparatus of the present invention and

FIG. 9 a schematic section through a rack suitable for use in a ski roomwhich is provided with ski holding apparatus in accordance with thepresent teaching.

Turning first of all to FIGS. 1 and 2 there can be seen the essentialdetails of a ski roof rack in accordance with the present teaching whichis suitable for use on a private motor car. For the purposes ofsimplicity only the side of the ski rack to the right of the centrallongitudinal plane 13 is shown and it will be understood that the otherside of the ski rack will be a symmetrical mirror image of thearrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Furthermore, in conventional fashionthe ski rack is based on two carrier members 11 (of which only the frontcarrier member is shown in FIG. 1) which are connected to the rainchannels at either side of the car roof (these rain channels 29 can e.g.be seen in FIG. 3).

In the arrangement of FIG. 1 a small clearance is present between theroof 28 of the motor car and the lower side of the carrier member 11.Three holers 12a, 12b, 12c are fastened to the upper side of the carriermember 11 and are spaced sideways from each other. Corresponding skiholders (not shown) are also provided on the rearmost carrier member 11and thus each of the holders 12a, 12b, 12c forms one of a pair ofholders. Each holder comprises first and second support surfaces 17a,18a; 17b, 18b; 17c, 18c; which are respectively arranged substantiallyat right angles to one another and which define generally Vee shapedrecesses. The holders 12 are conveniently formed from a single bentpiece of sheet metal 21 which is advantageous from the point of view ofmanufacture and results in the individual limbs 17, 18 of the individualholders being connected together by bridges 30. Whilst the angle betweenthe limbs 17 and 18 of each holder amounts to 90° the angles α and βwhich these limbs respectively subtend to the carrier member 11, i.e. tothe plane of the support structure, is conveniently 45°. The length ofthe limbs 17 and 18 must at least be sufficiently large that a pair ofskis can be introduced into the holder in the manner shown in FIGS. 1and 2 and can be securely held by the limbs. If the limb 17 receives thenarrow edges of the pair of skis then it can be made shorter than thelimb 18 which forms the support of the top surface of the lower ski ofthe pair of skis.

In order to safely secure the pair of skis 22 in the Vee shaped recessdefined between the limbs 17 and 18 a clamping arm 15 is provided abovethe holders 12 and this clamping arm is pivotable about a longitudinalfore and after axis 14 in the vicinity of the centre of the ski rack.The clamping arm 15 extends in general parallel to the carrier member 11and curves downwardly towards the carrier member 11 at its outside endso that it can e.g. be latched to the carrier member 11 by means of alock. In this manner the pairs of skis can be secured against theft.

The clamping arm 15 has lugs 19a, 19b, 19c which are spaced apartsideways and rubber cords 21a, 21b and 21c extend downwardly on bothsides of the clamping arm 15 to fixture points 20a, 20b and 20c whichare provided on downwardly projecting and sideways spaced apart supportarms 23a, 23b and 23c. The rubber cords thus define resilient tensileelements.

The fixture points 19 and 20 are so arranged that a partiallypretensioned rubber cord 21 adopts the position shown in FIG. 1 at 21cprior to the insertion to a pair of skis.

If now a pair of skis is introduced in the illustrated manner into thesupport 12b whilst the clamping arm 15 is in its upwardly pivotedposition then, on closing the clamping arm 15 by pivoting it downwardlyto its closed position the rubber cord 21b is tensioned around the pairof skis 22 in the manner shown at 21b in FIG. 1 and presses the pair ofskis against the support limbs 17 and 18. The forces exerted by therubber cord 21b are shown by the arrows K1, K2 and K3. These forces mustbe sufficiently large in order to safely secure the skis against all theshaking, vibration and aerodynamic forces that the skis may experience.Apart from the rubber cords 21 no further part of the clamping arm 15engages the pair of skis.

It can be clearly seen from FIG. 1 that the inclined arrangement of theinvention means that the bindings 25 and the ski brakes 26 of the pairof skis 22 can no longer interfere with one another, with neighbouringpairs of skis, or with the car roof 28 although the ski holders 12 couldbe arranged more closely together than is shown in FIG. 1.

The invention thus provides not only a very safe ski holder but also aski holder which is compact and economical of space for pairs of skiswhich abut one another by their running surfaces or soles.

It will be understood that a complete ski holding apparatus or rackbased on the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 will feature six holders 12arranged alongside each other on each of two carrier members 11 arrangedone behind the other in the longitudinal direction on the roof of themotor car thus defining a common support plane 16 and that this ski rackcan accommodate six pairs of skis.

When the clamping arms 15 are pivoted to an upward open position thenthe pairs of skis 22 can be removed in the direction F (FIG. 1) by anarm movement which comes naturally to the skier and the skis canlikewise be comfortably reinserted by movement in the reverse direction.

FIG. 1 also shows a number of parts 27a, 27b and 27c which project fromthe clamp arm 15 into the vicinity of the recess for the skis to asufficient extent that the skis are prevented from sliding in thelongitudinal direction as the binding parts or ski brake parts whichproject from the top surfaces of the skis will contact the projectingparts 27. This arrangement also avoids with certainty the possibilitythat the skis can fall out of the ski holding apparatus should theclosure parts 21 rupture or lose their tension. The corner regions 27thus represent an additional means of securing the pair of skis in theski holding apparatus.

FIG. 3 shows various simplified embodiments in which the clamp arm 15 ofthe embodiment of FIG. 1 is no longer used and individual closures 21are instead provided for each of the holders 12.

In the embodiment shown at the extreme left of FIG. 3 a rubber strap,rubber cord, or rubber loop 21 is fastened to the end of the limb 18which supports the top surface of the ski. The rubber band 21 can thenbe tensioned in the manner shown in FIG. 3 around the pair of skis 22and can be releasably fastened to the end of the narrow limb 17 of theholder which is remote from the apex of the generally Vee shaped recess.The releasable fastening can e.g. be achieved by means of an opening inthe rubber strap which is applied over a hook 33.

In the embodiment shown in the centre of FIG. 3 the closure 21 whichextends over the top surface of the top ski of the pair of skis isformed of resilient material. It can thus be pressed away from the skisin the direction of the arrow P and rotated about an axis such that thepair of skis can then be removed through the access opening 32. Theangled portion 31 ensures a safe retention of the pair of skis 22 in theholder 12.

Finally in the third embodiment shown at the right hand side of FIG. 3the closure which secures the pair of skis 22 comprises a rigidly formedpart 21''' which is arranged parallel to the limb 17 and a displaceablepart 21'''' which is disposed parallel to the other limb 18 and isdisplaceable from the inclined closed position shown in full lines tothe open position shown in broken lines. In corresponding manner thepart 21'''' can also be pivotably arranged, it can e.g. be made upwardlypivotable. It is, however, especially advantageous if, as shown in FIGS.4 and 5 the access openings 32 for the ski holding apparatus aredirected towards that side of the ski from which the introduction, orremoval of the pair of skis 22 takes place. For this purpose a rigidclosure 21" (FIG. 4) is arranged to be pivotable in a sideways directionabout the longitudinal axis 35 against the force of a hair pin spring36. Alternatively, as seen in FIG. 5 a resilient closure 21' whichextends parallel to the shorter 17 of the two limbs 17 and is attachedto the end of the longer limb 18 remote from the apex of the Vee shapedrecess is arranged to be pivoted sideways as shown by the arrow.

An angled portion 31 of the closure 21 extends sufficiently far over theaccess opening 32 that after the angled portion 31 has snapped intoposition on the top surface of the top ski of the pair of skis 22 theskis are safely retained. Advantageously the angle portion 31 isprovided with a chamfer 31' at its upper topmost corner as shown in FIG.4 and the inclination of this chamfer is chosen so that on pressing thepair of skis 22 against the closure 21" the closure will automaticallybe pushed away to the side and will free the access opening 32. Afterthe skis have been introduced the closure 21" snaps back into positionof its own accord so that the pair of skis 22 is safely retained fromall four sides.

Turning now to FIG. 6 there is shown a schematic cross-section through avehicle 37 which is provided with a ski reception space or chamber 38which extends along the length of the vehicle and is arranged adjacentthe floor thereof. Four ski holders 12 are arranged alongside oneanother on the lower edge 39 of the ski reception chamber 38 and it willbe understood that each of these ski holders forms one of a pair of skiholders axially spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of thevehicle. The arrangement shown in FIG. 6 is thus capable ofaccommodating four pairs of skis.

In FIG. 7 there can be seen a side view of the upper part of a vehicle37 which has a ski box 40 fastened to its roof 28. The section of thisbox illustrated in FIG. 8 shows that the ski holding apparatus of thepresent teaching can also be arranged inside a ski box of this kind andin particular that the cover of the ski box 40 can form the clamping arm15.

FIG. 9 shows a rack 41 with two vertically arranged supports 42 whichare provided with carrier members 11 to each of which there arerespectively fastened three ski holders 12. Two vertical supports andassociated carrier members 11 and holders 12 are arranged spaced apartas seen in the longitudinal direction of the ski by a distance such thatthe bindings of the skis are located between the two parts of the rack.

Closures for retaining the pairs of skis in the holders are notnecessary for this simplified use of the invention in a rack for a skiroom.

A special feature of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are thesynthetic of plastic tubes which clamp together the pairs of rubbercords which are fastened to each side of the clamp arm 15. In this waythe possibility of collision with the limbs 17 is avoided andsimultaneously a uniform abutment on the pair of skis is ensured. Inparticular, forces extending in an inclined direction at the junction ofthe two cords which could otherwise have led to failure are avoided. Thesynthetic tube is located at the region where the cords cross the edgeof the ski and thus prevents too pronounced a load in the cords at thispoint.

The support surfaces of the limbs 17 and 18 can also be partiallyinterrupted. If the pairs of skis are already held together by clips orski brakes then an abutment is only required at a few points. Indeed, aski does not need to be supported at all by the narrow side edgesthereof.

As used in this specification and claims the term "top surface" of a skiis used to distinguish the sole or running surface and the upper surfaceto which the bindings are attached from the narrow side edges.

If a rack is adapted to carry skis in pairs then the term "top surface"is only applicable to the aforementioned upper surface. If however therack is adapted to carry skis singly the term "top surface" will beunderstood to mean both the upper surface and, as an alternative, thesole of the ski.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications bemade to the ski holding apparatus herein described without departingfrom the scope of the present teaching as defined by the appendedclaims.

We claim:
 1. Ski holding apparatus comprising a rack for supporting aplurality of skis substantially parallel to one another in asubstantially common plane, there being a plurality of pairs of holdersarranged across the rack with the holders of each pair being spacedapart along the rack and being adapted to support at least one ski of apair of skis at two locations the holders being further adapted tosupport the skis in an inclined positions with the mean transverse planeof the skis arranged at an angle within the range 30° to 60° to saidcommon plane.
 2. Ski holding apparatus according to claim 1 and in whicheach said pair of holders is adapted to support a pair of skis arrangedwith their soles facing each other.
 3. Ski holding apparatus accordingto claim 1 and in which each said holder has first and second supportsurfaces disposed substantially at right angles to each other defining aVee shaped recess for receiving a ski in said inclined position.
 4. Skiholding apparatus according to claim 3 and in which the first supportsurfaces of the holders are adapted to support the narrow side edges ofskis and the second support surfaces are adapted to support the topsurfaces of skis.
 5. Ski holding apparatus according to claim 1 andfurther comprising first and second carrier members arranged spacedapart along the rack by a distance substantially equal to the spacingbetween the holders of each pair of holders the holders of each pair ofholders being arranged one on each carrier member.
 6. Ski holdingapparatus according to claim 5 and in which from two to six pairs ofholders are arranged alongside each other.
 7. Ski holding apparatusaccording to claim 3 and in which a closure is associated with eachholder the closures being movable between open positions permitting theinsertion of skis and closed positions for securing the skis to theholders.
 8. Ski holding apparatus according to claim 7 and in which theclosure associated with each holder is individually movable.
 9. Skiholding apparatus according to claim 8 and in which each closure is aresilient strap tensionable over its associated holder.
 10. Ski holdingapparatus according to claim 8 and in which each closure is an elasticcord tensionable over its associated closure.
 11. Ski holding apparatusaccording to claim 9 and in which each said Vee shaped recess is definedby two limbs, each said resilient strap being connected to one end ofone limb and being releasably connectable to the end of the other limb.12. Ski holding apparatus according to claim 10 and in which each saidVee shaped recess is defined by two limbs, each said elastic cord beingfixed to the end of one of the limbs and is releasably connectable tothe end of the other limb.
 13. Ski holding apparatus according to claim8 and in which each said closure comprises a spring biased clamp ofrigid material movable away from its associated holder to free theaccess opening thereto.
 14. Ski holding apparatus according to claim 13and in which each closure is arranged at the side of the holder remotefrom that from which the skis can be introduced into the access openingand that solely an angled portion of said closure extends over theaccess opening.
 15. Ski holding apparatus according to claim 14 and inwhich each said closure is pivotable relative to its associated holderfor freeing the access opening.
 16. Ski holding apparatus according toclaim 14 and in which each said closure is deflectable relate to itsassociated holder to free the access opening thereto.
 17. Ski holdingapparatus according to claim 16 and in which the closure has a chamferat its top surface of the end of the angled portion above the accessopening.
 18. Ski holding apparatus according to claim 15 and in whichsaid closure has a chamfer on the top surface of the end of the angledportion above the access opening.
 19. Ski holding apparatus according toclaim 8 and in which each said closure comprises a spring biased clampof resilient material movable away from the holder against spring bias.20. Ski holding apparatus according to claim 8 and in which the Veeshaped recess of each holder is defined between a pair of limbs and inwhich said closure comprises a first arm extending parallel to one ofthe limbs and a second arm mounted on the first arm and movable betweena closed position in which it at least partially covers the accessopening to said Vee shaped recess and an open position in which theaccess opening to the recess is freed.
 21. Ski holding apparatusaccording to claim 7 and in which the closures associated with aplurality of holders are arranged on at least one clamp arm and arejointly movable on said clamp arm from said open to said closedpositions and wherein the clamp arm can be locked with the closures insaid closed positions.
 22. Ski holding apparatus according to claim 21and adapted for use as a ski roof rack for a motor vehicle and in whichsaid clamping arm is upwardly pivotable about a longitudinal axis. 23.Ski holding apparatus according to claim 22 and in which twolongitudinally spaced apart pairs of clamp arms are provided and adaptedto pivot about pivot axes located near the centre of the rack.
 24. Skiholding apparatus according to claim 23 and in which one said clamp armis associated with three holders arranged side by side.
 25. Ski holdingapparatus according to claim 21 and in which said clamp arm isassociated with a number of holders arranged side by side and in whicheach closure comprises a resilient tensile member extending between apair of respective fixture points on said arm each pair of fixturepoints being disposed so that said resilient tensile member extendsacross the associated holder and forms the sole part of the clamping armwhich contacts a ski engaged in the associated holder.
 26. Ski holdingapparatus according to claim 25 and in which a plurality of support armsextend downwardly at spaced intervals from the clamping arm and that arespective fixture point of each pair of fixture points is provided oneach said support arm.
 27. Ski holding apparatus according to claim 26and in which the other said fixture point of each pair of fixture pointsis provided on said clamp arm.
 28. Ski holding apparatus according toclaim 27 and in which the fixture points on said clamping arm aredefined by a series of spaced apart lugs.
 29. Ski holding apparatusaccording to claim 25 and in which each said tensile element subtends anangle in the range 0° to 30° with the surface of said holder intended tosupport the top surface of ski engaged in the holder.
 30. Ski holdingapparatus according to claim 29 and in which said angle in the range 0°to 30° is 15°.
 31. Ski holding apparatus according to claim 30 and inwhich each said tensile element has its largest spacing from the limb ofthe holder adapted to support the top surface of the ski at its point ofintersection with the limb adapted to support the narrow side edgesurface of a ski.
 32. Ski holding apparatus according to claim 31 and inwhich said separation amounts to a distance lying within a rangeequivalent to 40 to 60% of the average thickness of a pair of skis. 33.Ski holding apparatus according to claim 25 and in which, as seen in asection transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rack each tensileelement is approximately tangential to the end of the limb of the holderwhich is adapted in operation to support the top surface of a ski andwhich is remote from the apex of the Vee shaped recess in the holder.34. Ski holding apparatus according to claim 25 and in which the supportlimbs of the holders are formed by the sides of a strip of metal bentinto a zigzag like form and fastened to an associated carrier member.35. Ski holding apparatus according to claim 25 and in which the limb ofeach holder that is adapted to support the narrow side edges of a pairof skis is extended to adjoin the limb of the neighbouring holder thatis adapted to support the top surface of one ski of a pair of skis. 36.Ski holding apparatus according to claim 25 and in which the limb ofeach holder that is adapted to support the narrow side edges of a pairof skis is located to the outside of the limb that is adapted to supportthe top surface of the lower ski of the pair of skis.
 37. Ski holdingapparatus according to claim 25 and in which the resilient tensileelement has a modulus of elasticity in the range 100 to 400 kp/cm². 38.Ski holding apparatus according to claim 37 and in which said modulus ofelasticity is 200 kp/cm².
 39. Ski holding apparatus according to claim25 and in which said resilient tensile element is a rubber cord.
 40. Skiholding apparatus according to claim 25 and in which, as seen in thetransverse direction, resilient tensile elements are provided on bothsides of each holder.
 41. Ski holding apparatus according to claim 40and in which each pair of tensile elements associated with each holderare joined together at least over a portion of their length by a sleeve.42. Ski holding apparatus according to claim 21 and in which inwardlydirected projections are provided on the clamping arm and are adaptedfor cooperation with the bindings of skis supported in the ski holdingapparatus to prevent excessive movement thereof.
 43. Ski holdingapparatus according to claim 25 and in which each said tensile elementis releasably arranged at the associated pair of fixture points.
 44. Skiholding apparatus according to claim 1 and in which protective layers ofmaterial are provided on the limbs of the holders.
 45. Ski holdingapparatus according to claim 44 and in which said protective layers arein a synthetic material.
 46. Ski holding apparatus according to claim 44and in which said protective layers are of rubber.
 47. A pair of skiholders adapted for use in a ski holding apparatus according to claim 1.